title: Self-concept clarity, thin-ideal internalization, and appearance-related social comparison as predictors of body dissatisfaction.
abstract: This study examined the associations among self-concept clarity, thin-ideal internalization, appearance-related social comparison tendencies, and body dissatisfaction. Female university students (N=278) completed self-report measures of these constructs. Structural equation modeling revealed several key findings: (a) thin-ideal internalization mediated the link between appearance-related social comparison tendencies and body dissatisfaction; (b) self-concept clarity was negatively associated with both thin-ideal internalization and appearance-related social comparison tendencies; and (c) thin-ideal internalization mediated the link between self-concept clarity and body dissatisfaction. These findings suggest that low self-concept clarity might contribute to body image problems because it increases women's vulnerability to thin-ideal internalization and appearance-related social comparison tendencies.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: lvartanian@psy.unsw.edu.au.
authors.forename: Lenny R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Vartanian
authors.forename: Shanta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003469:Culture; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012649:Self Concept; D012945:Social Values; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013851:Thinness / Q000523:psychology*; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Appearance-related social comparison; Body dissatisfaction; Self-concept clarity; Thin-ideal internalization